Abstract: A hardware display unit includes a front grid having a front matrix of openings, and a rear grid having a rear matrix of openings corresponding in position to the first matrix of openings. The front grid is positioned with respect to the rear grid such that corresponding pairs of openings in the front and rear matrices together define downward sloping bays for receiving hardware. The display unit further includes side brackets mounted to side edges of the front and rear grids, the side brackets extending behind the front and rear grids for attaching the display unit to a vertical supporting structure. The display unit further includes a cap mounted to the front and rear grids. The cap includes a substantially horizontal surface extending from the front and rear grids towards a vertical supporting structure to which the first and second side brackets are attached. An adapter unit allows smaller items to be loaded into the display unit.

Abstract: An optical scanner includes a scanner housing including a scan window, a laser light source, reflected light detector and a mirrored polygon spinner. The spinner is arranged to spin around both a first axis of rotation and a second axis of rotation so as to produce a substantially hemispherical scan volume.

Abstract: A variety of advantageous mechanisms for improved data transfer control within a data processing system are described. A DMA controller is described which is implemented as a multiprocessing transfer engine supporting multiple transfer controllers which may work independently or in cooperation to carry out data transfers, with each transfer controller acting as an autonomous processor, fetching and dispatching DMA instructions to multiple execution units. In particular, mechanisms for initiating and controlling the sequence of data transfers are provided, as are processes for autonomously fetching DMA instructions which are decoded sequentially but executed in parallel.

Abstract: Techniques for automatically monitoring a computer network and notifying an attendant upon detection of problems are described. A system for monitoring the computer network comprises a monitoring server connected to the network and operative to communicate with a plurality of monitored servers belonging to the network and a monitor program hosted on the monitor server and operative to test the performance and correct functioning of selected ones of the monitored servers and the presence or absence of problems related to applications running on the monitored servers.

Abstract: A system for electronic distribution of books and other media. The system includes a number of self-service stations from which a customer can select and order items and download the ordered item to a portable reader a or smart card. The system may include cryptoprocessing capabilities in order to prevent illicit duplication and distribution of items. The self-service stations are connected to a network of servers which provide access to information and capabilities, such as access to available titles which may be stored in a remote location, the ability to provide audio and video conferencing for customer assistance or as a special feature, such as a conference with an author, or access to customer account information. The system may collect and store customer information in order to provide the customer with an enhanced shopping experience, for example by collecting and analyzing purchase information in order to identify customer areas of interest and suggest purchases likely to interest the customer.

Abstract: A design tool for choosing and modifying features of a dot matrix display. The design tool allows a user to design and save a character set and then to enter and view text to be displayed using the character set. The user is able to modify features of the display and to immediately see the result of any modifications made. The user may further see a representation of a hardware display having features and characteristics selected by the user, and may modify the features as desired. As the modifications are made, they are reflected in the representation of the hardware display. The design tool allows the user to store numerical representations of the selected features and characteristics of the design in order to provide the numerical representations to personnel implementing a hardware embodiment of the design.

Abstract: Improved techniques for transmission and display of video data are described. A point of sale terminal includes a processor, memory and software executed by the processor to create frames of data and to analyze the frames of data to create differential data defining differences between preceding and succeeding frames of data. The differential data can be applied to the preceding frames to construct the succeeding frames. At least one frame is transmitted to an external video interface using an external connection such as a universal serial bus port. Differential data is also transmitted to the external video interface. The differential data is applied to the frame which has been transmitted in order to create succeeding frames. The frames of video data are displayed using a display connected to the video interface.

Abstract: A method of reading a plurality of bar codes during a scanning motion across a bar code scanner which enhances scanner operation. The method includes the steps of obtaining data from a detector in the bar code scanner, determining position information associated with the data, distinguishing data associated with each bar code using the position information, and assembling the bar codes from the data.

Abstract: Efficient techniques for computation of texture coordinates using scaled conversion operations for a 3D graphics pipeline utilizing a scaled floating point to integer instruction and a scaled integer to floating point instruction to significantly reduce memory requirements. A parallel array VLIW digital signal processor is employed along with specialized scaled conversion instructions and communication operations between the processing elements, which are overlapped with computation to provide very high performance operation. Successive iterations of a loop of tightly packed VLIWs are used allowing the graphics pipeline hardware to be efficiently used.

Abstract: Techniques for an electronic shelf label (ESL) system which uses a digital modulation technique for a modulated backscatter uplink from an ESL to a communication base station (CBS) which utilizes pseudo-random sequences instead of a single continuous wave frequency. The CBS transmits a message to an ESL using a Manchester coded amplitude modulated carrier. After receiving the message, the ESL responds by reflectively modulating a continuous wave (CW) signal with a pseudo-random code sequence. Multiple pseudo-random code sequences may be chosen, with each code sequence corresponding to a particular response. The code sequence is modulated onto a kHz carrier which is used to reflectively modulate the CW signal received from the CBS. The CBS then receives the reflectively modulated signal and correlates the received signal to determine message transmitted.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for efficiently storing a key and optionally additional data in an environment. A memory apparatus embodiment includes a plurality of memory banks and a conversion module. The number of memory banks is determined by at least the number of coordinates within an n-dimension format, each bank is associated to one of the coordinates within the n-dimension format. Each memory bank has at least a number of memory locations equal to the largest valid value for its associated coordinate. The conversion module converts a key into an n-dimension format, the n-dimension format defines a coordinate system where each coordinate represents a memory location within the associated memory bank. The conversion module stores the key into one memory location based on a policy which is dependent on the coordinates defined by the n-dimension format.

Abstract: Techniques for monitoring of storage usage and trends in a document image processing and storage system are described. A storage and retrieval monitor resides on a storage server and monitors the status of volumes and units on which data is stored, completed storage requests and pending storage and retrieval requests. The storage and retrieval monitor analyzes completed and pending storage requests in order to project usage trends over time, and also analyzes the storage status in order to determine the used and available space and the space dedicated to various units and classes of data such as documents and families of documents. The storage and retrieval monitor generates alerts when the available storage space falls below a predetermined limit. The alerts and the usage and status information are presented to a user through a user interface allowing easy access to the storage and usage information and the ability to select desired information for display.

Abstract: Techniques for displaying promotional information by providing an electronic sign (ES) which displays promotional information, display slogans, bundled pricing, bulk pricing, and other types of information. The ES can be used by retailers to increase sales, provide an alternate technique for advertising and reduce costs. According to one aspect, an EPL computer reads an EPL/ES data file to determine if an entry is associated with an EPL or an ES. The EPL computer then reads a promotional message from a promotional data file. An index in the EPL/ES data file may be used to determine the correct promotional message. The EPL computer transmits a message to the ES which includes a command for the ES to display the promotional message. The ES then displays the promotional message, providing valuable information to customers who are in the process of making purchasing decisions. In one aspect, an ES displays promotional information associated with an offer and is not associated with any particular single item.

Abstract: An electronic price label (ESL) system with a reduced power consumption ESL is described. In one aspect, an ESL system and method conserves battery power by removing power from certain ESL components which are utilized to receive messages during time periods in which the ESL is not scheduled to receive messages. The host computer system transmits a power save command to the ESL instructing the ESL to cease downlink monitoring and remove power from at least a portion of the receiver circuitry. The power save command includes a start time and a predetermined time period, both which are stored in ESL registers. Alternatively, the power save command may include a start time and an end time. When the start time occurs, the ESL circuitry removes the power from the receiver and ceases downlink monitoring for messages, thus reducing the power consumed by the ESL.

Abstract: A digital signal processor for computing various types of complex multiplication is described. The digital signal processor operates in conjunction with registers, a multiplier, an adder, and a multiplexer The Registers store first and second complex operands. The multiplier simultaneously performs multiplications to produce each combination of products between the real and imaginary terms of the first and second complex operands. The multiplexer selects which produced products are added to or subtracted from each other based on the type of complex multiplication being performed. The adder simultaneously performs additions and subtractions, if necessary, to produce both real and imaginary results depending on whether the type of complex multiplication being performed is a conjugated operation. The registers store the results of the complex multiplication.

Abstract: Techniques for using imaging information computed from examining a scanner signal are described. When one or more objects passes within a field of view of a scanner, scan patterns emerging from one or more scanner windows and reflected from the objects back into the scanner windows produce one or more scanner signals. The scanner signals are processed to obtain beam position and beam length information to improve the accuracy of bar code decoding and to compute imaging information for objects within the field of view of the scanner. The imaging information for the objects is compared with bar code information for the objects. The expected number, size and shapes of objects indicated by the bar code information is compared with the actual number, size and shapes of objects in order to determine if valid scans occurred or if missed, double or otherwise erroneous scans occurred.

Abstract: An eventpoint chaining apparatus for generalized event detection and action specification in a processing environment is described. In one aspect, the eventpoint chaining apparatus includes a first processor which has a programmable eventpoint module with an input trigger (InTrig) input. The first processing element detects an occurrence of a first processor event (p-event) and produces an OutTrigger (OT) signal. The eventpoint chaining apparatus also includes a second processor which has a programmable eventpoint module with an input trigger (InTrig) input which receives the OT signal from the first processing element. The second processing element detects an occurrence of a second p-event and produces, in response to the OT signal received from the first processing element and the detection of a second p-event, an eventpoint (EP) interrupt signal.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for performing modular arithmetic on a key composed of many bits. One circuit implementation includes a distributor, one or more lookup tables and a plurality of adders. The distributor segments the key into a plurality of partitions. Each partition is based on a polynomial expression corresponding to a fixed size key. Each of the bits contained within the partitions are routed on a partition basis to one or more lookup tables, the routed bits acting as indices into the one or more tables. The lookup tables store precomputed values based upon the polynomial expression. The outputted precomputed values from one or more lookup tables are outputted to the plurality of adders. The plurality of adders add the bits from a portion of the routed partitions and the outputted precomputed values from the one or more lookup tables to form the binary residue.

Abstract: A retractable leash device is comprised of a housing with a handle, and a leash wound around an internal reel. The reel is biased by a spring to automatically retract the leash. A momentary unidirectional lock in the housing is arranged to be normally disengaged from unidirectional teeth on the reel. When the momentary unidirectional lock is actuated, the reel is engaged by a ratchet to prevent rotation in the release direction but permit rotation in the retract direction. A toggle lock in the housing is movable between an unlocked position away from the reel, and a locked position between cogs on the reel. A geared rotation damper is engaged with a concentric gear on the reel to limit retraction speed. A clip attached to the housing may be clipped around the leash when the leash is wrapped around a fixed object.

Abstract: A self-diagnosing electronic price label. The label communicates with a central processor in order to receive price information for display and to report the status of the label to the central processor. The label periodically runs a self-test program to verify proper operation of its components. If a component fails the self-test, the failure is reported to a central processor, and the central processor reports the failure for investigation. During normal operation, the label issues a signal to the central processor indicating normal operation. In the event of a failure, the label ceases to send the signal indicating normal operation. When the signal is not received as expected, the central processor reports the failure to receive the signal for investigation. This allows the central processor to be alerted to failures which disable communication between the label and the central processor.